7-Day UC Flare Meal Plan + Grocery List (Printable)
Last Updated Jan 15, 2026
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). During a flare, eating can feel like one more hard task, especially with diarrhea, urgency, cramps, or low appetite. This ulcerative colitis flare meal plan is a simple 7-day template built around “low residue” (often meaning lower fiber and fewer rough textures) meals that many people find gentler during rough weeks. Food needs can vary a lot in UC, so this plan is meant to reduce decision fatigue, not replace personalized guidance from an IBD clinician or dietitian.
How this low residue meal plan fits into a UC flare week
During active symptoms, many people temporarily lean toward softer, lower-fiber foods and smaller meals more often, because high-fiber items (especially nuts, seeds, popcorn, and some raw fruits and vegetables) can worsen symptoms for some. [1] A low-residue approach usually means choosing refined grains (like white rice), tender proteins (like eggs, fish, chicken), and cooked, peeled fruits or vegetables, while limiting skins, seeds, whole grains, and other harder-to-digest textures. [2]
This kind of “flare diet” is typically considered a short-term tool. Some clinical resources emphasize that fiber is often the main food category reduced during a flare, and that long-term restriction can make it harder to meet nutrition needs. [3] Tracking patterns can help, since UC triggers vary, and no single diet has been proven to cause, prevent, or cure IBD. [4] Hydration can also matter during diarrhea, along with choosing foods that feel tolerable and realistic when energy is low. [5] If there are signs of dehydration, rapid weight loss, or symptoms that feel severe or unusual, it may be safest to contact a healthcare professional promptly.
7-day UC flare meal plan + grocery list (printable-friendly)
How to use this template: repeat meals as needed, swap similar items, and keep portions small if that feels better. Season simply (salt, mild herbs) and cook until soft.
7-day plan (mix-and-match):
- Day 1: Breakfast oatmeal made with water, banana. Lunch chicken and white rice soup. Dinner baked fish, mashed potatoes, cooked carrots.
- Day 2: Breakfast scrambled eggs, white toast. Lunch turkey sandwich on white bread, peeled cucumber (if tolerated) or broth. Dinner chicken and white rice bowl, well-cooked zucchini (peeled).
- Day 3: Breakfast cream of rice cereal, applesauce. Lunch plain pasta with olive oil, shredded chicken. Dinner omelet, soft cooked spinach (if tolerated), white roll.
- Day 4: Breakfast yogurt or lactose-free yogurt, banana. Lunch strained vegetable soup plus crackers. Dinner turkey meatballs, plain noodles, small amount of smooth sauce (if tolerated).
- Day 5: Breakfast eggs, white toast. Lunch tuna salad on white bread. Dinner baked chicken, white rice, cooked peeled squash.
- Day 6: Breakfast oatmeal, applesauce. Lunch chicken noodle soup. Dinner fish, mashed potatoes, cooked green beans (very soft).
- Day 7: Breakfast cream of rice cereal, banana. Lunch deli turkey roll-ups, crackers. Dinner scrambled eggs, white rice, cooked carrots.
Printable grocery list low residue (checklist):
- [ ] White rice, white pasta/noodles, white bread, plain crackers
- [ ] Oatmeal, cream of rice (or similar hot cereal)
- [ ] Eggs
- [ ] Chicken breast or rotisserie chicken (plain), ground turkey, deli turkey (simple ingredients)
- [ ] Fish (salmon, cod, tilapia, canned tuna)
- [ ] Broth, low-sodium if preferred
- [ ] Potatoes
- [ ] Carrots, zucchini/summer squash, green beans (cook very soft, peel when helpful)
- [ ] Bananas, applesauce (smooth)
- [ ] Yogurt or lactose-free yogurt (as tolerated)
- [ ] Olive oil, salt, mild seasonings
Easy swaps: lactose-free dairy if dairy seems to worsen symptoms, tofu instead of meat, soup at any meal, or a nutrition drink if solid food feels difficult (when approved by a clinician). [4]